These heavily manufactured food items, like crisps, sweets and cakes, have recently been called into question after a large-scale review linked their consumption to higher risks of 32 serious health conditions<\/a> including cancer, heart disease and early death.<\/p>\n But before you panic and start binning everything in the kitchen, it\u2019s worth knowing that not all ultra-processed foods are created equal, and experts say that some can even form part of a healthy diet.<\/p>\n To help you make sense of your next supermarket shop, we asked nutritionist Rob Hobson<\/a>, author of the cookbook Unprocess Your Family Life<\/a>, to explain which foods to keep in your half-term shopping trolley and which to put back on the shelf.<\/p>\n The worst ultra-processed foods for kids<\/p>\n When it comes to the worst offenders, Hobson says you should look out for foods that are high in additives and low in nutritional value.<\/p>\n \u201cThese foods are often colourfully packaged and heavily marketed to children, which can make them harder to spot,\u201d he notes. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to cut them out entirely, but think of them as ‘occasional foods’ rather than daily staples for packed lunches.\u201d<\/p>\n 1. Lunch kits<\/p>\n Build-it-yourself lunch kits are finger-friendly and convenient when you\u2019re packing off fussy kids to school or holiday clubs in a hurry. But while they can be a fun treat from time to time, Hobson warns that they don\u2019t provide much in the way of real nutrition.<\/p>\n “These pre-packed lunch kits are highly processed, with multiple additives in the meat, cheese and crackers. Plus, they\u2019re also low in fibre and often moderately high in salt and saturated fat,” he warns.<\/p>\n If your kids love the DIY element, Hobson suggests getting creative and meal prepping your own homemade versions using wholegrain crackers, real cheese and sliced chicken breast.<\/p>\n 2. Kids’ yoghurt tubes<\/p>\n Parents often opt for yoghurt in single-serving tubes, as they provide much less opportunity for mess than old-school tubs.<\/p>\n “These yoghurts are designed to appeal to kids with their bright packaging and sweet flavours, but they\u2019re often packed with extra sugars, thickeners and stabilisers,” warns Hobson. “They also lack the protein content and gut-friendly bacteria you get from plain Greek yoghurt varieties.”<\/p>\n Instead of opting for the expensive pre-packaged versions, Hobson reckons you\u2019re much better off spooning natural yoghurt into a reusable pouch and adding chopped fruits for sweetness.<\/p>\n 3. Frosted flake breakfast cereals<\/p>\n Some of these frosted cereals have a surprisingly short ingredients list, containing just one additive \u2013 barley malt extract, which Hobson assures isn\u2019t necessarily harmful.<\/p>\n “But the main concern is the sugar content,” he warns. “A standard 35 gram bowl can contain just over two teaspoons of the sweet stuff \u2013 that’s 13 grams in one sitting.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd as the soft, sweet texture makes it easy to eat quickly, kids often grab second or third helpings, which can further bump up their daily sugar intake,” he adds.<\/p>\n 4. Teddy bear shaped crisps<\/p>\n They might be marketed as \u2018melt in the mouth\u2019 and low in calories, but kids’ animal-shaped crisps are also ultra-light on nutrition and full of modified starches, flavourings and emulsifiers.<\/p>\n “They’re not a problem once in a while, but they shouldn\u2019t replace more nutrient-dense snacks like rice cakes with nut butter and banana or whole fruit,” Hobson says.<\/p>\n Just one bowl of Kellogg’s Frosties contains 13 grams of sugar. (Image: Getty)<\/p>\n The best ultra-processed foods for kids<\/p>\n Some ultra-processed foods are both convenient and still offer good nutrition and minimal additives, which Hobson says are ideal for busy parents who are trying to do their best.<\/p>\n 1. Weetabix<\/p>\n Dating back to 1932, Weetabix has been a staple of the British breakfast table for more than 90 years.<\/p>\n “Weetabix is technically ultra-processed, but it\u2019s an excellent breakfast option for kids,” says Hobson. “It\u2019s made with wholegrain wheat, contains no added sugar and is fortified with iron and B vitamins \u2013 nutrients many children don\u2019t get enough of.”<\/p>\n Aside from barley malt extract (the ingredient which classifies it under the UPF umbrella), Weetabix is also additive-free.<\/p>\n “Pair it with milk and fruit for a fibre and protein-rich start to the day,” Hobson suggests.<\/p>\n 2. Baked beans<\/p>\n![\"Sweet](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8fa38b60-37df-11f0-b7de-0bb8b8ea9f3e.jpeg\"\/)
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